bobc wrote:
Hi everyone!
Just an FYI - was at Lowes the other day and they had 2 1/2" Cattleya
seedlings for US $5.96. A Potinara, a BLC, and an LC. Sorry, don't
remember the names but they were familiar - I mean clones I heard of
before.
No, didn't buy any. At the moment I'm happy with what I have.
Anyway, if you can get to a Lowes, see if they have them. The Lowes I
was at is on the Roosevelt Blvd, just north of Grant Ave, in Northeast
Philadelphia.
Bob Campoli

Well, I'm in a little different kind of situation than most. I
live on the island of Oahu, Hawaii and there are literally dozens
of locally owned nurseries that sell orchids. I just recently
started buying orchids again after a couple of years of ignoring
the ones I already had and I've now bought from three different
places. From a military exchange garden shop (I bought a bloomless
phal originally priced $19.99 marked 75% off and a Blc Rustic
spots with two blooms, one bud and two new growths for $12.99),
from the local base thrift shop (both bloomless, one untagged
and one Onc Shary Baby for $2.00 each) and one from a 'nursery'
run by two or three elderly Oriental couples (no clue what
the orchid is, it was blooming when I bought it, kinda looks
like a pansy and it was $5.00. There's a problem buying anything
from that nursery because nothing is tagged and they don't speak
enough English to find out what the plant is. :P ) Tomorrow I'm
hitting the big flea market and reacquainting myself with the
couple who only sell there one day a week and will probably
*finally* buy one of their huge grammatophyllums (IIRC that's
what they are.)

Now, having said all of that, I grew up in east central
Indiana and have spent a lot of time living in places that
aren't Hawaii and I *know* that, in many places, the most
likely place to buy orchids are going to be at the chains.
My mother, for example, has probably visited every nursery
in a four county area in Indiana and has never seen anyone
carrying orchids. So, while I understand the thinking that,
in places like Hawaii where there are many local, family
owned nurseries, buying orchids at KMart, etc., takes a
chunk out of their business (while being, IMO, silly LOL),
in other places it's going to be the only game in town and
will likely prompt them to search out orchid growers that
are further away.

Tracey